Strategies for Bolstering Siblings with Special Needs
Supporting Siblings of Children With Special Needs: Strategies for a Harmonious Family Life
In families with children who have special needs, attention can often be divided unevenly between siblings. This can cause feelings of neglect and jealousy among the siblings who do not require as much individual care. One parent shares her experience and offers practical solutions to ensure that every child in the family feels valued and loved.
For this family, their son requires constant supervision due to his special needs. As a result, their daughter may feel overlooked, as the parents focus their attention on managing their son's needs. The mother sought advice from a psychologist, who reminded her of the importance of setting aside special time for her daughter.
Last year was particularly challenging for their eldest son, as the family relocated to a new country and had to adapt to a completely different environment. Their son's special needs require a structured life with fixed routines, and the changes took a toll on him. As a result, the daughter was deprived of even more attention.
To address this issue, the family has started implementing changes to create special moments for their daughter. They have found family support, caregivers, and babysitters to help create "special sibling moments" during the daily routine. They have also included "Mummy time" in a visual schedule, so that both children know when to expect their special time.
Additionally, the mother and daughter have a secret shared activity—reading together in bed at night. The mother notes that her daughter's love for reading may have been sparked by this special bonding time with her mother.
To help her daughter connect with other siblings of children with special needs, the mother has introduced her to a new friend who also has a similar family situation. The mother encourages open communication and emotional validation with her children, and recognizes and celebrates their achievements to foster self-esteem.
For families dealing with similar issues, the mother recommends engaging in shared activities, setting aside one-on-one quality time, planning inclusive family outings, and involving siblings in advocacy and teamwork efforts. She also emphasizes the importance of open communication and emotional validation to create a safe environment for siblings to express their feelings.
Sources:
- National Family Support Network (NFSN) (n.d.). Sibling Support. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.nationalfamilysupport.org/services/sibling-support/
- Siblings (n.d.). Family Voices. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://familyvoices.org/topics/siblings/
- Sibshop (n.d.). The ARC of the United States. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://thearc.org/programs-and-services/family-support/sibshop/
- Siblings (2019, March 12). National Down Syndrome Society. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.ndss.org/siblings/
In the quest to create a harmonious family life, the mother prioritizes home-and-garden moments with her daughter to counteract any feelings of neglect or jealousy that may arise from their son's special needs. To facilitate these connections, they engage in shared activities, set aside one-on-one quality time, plan inclusive family outings, and involve their daughter in advocacy and teamwork efforts—all tactics inspired by the National Family Support Network, Family Voices, The ARC of the United States, and the National Down Syndrome Society.
